I've been here about 3 times and I've always had good food. So far I have tried the som tom, yum nuah, larb and Panang curry with fish. The food has been solid 4 star. Balanced, not too salty or sweet etc. I have not had any bad service or experienced any ingredients that aren't fresh. I've always stopped in around Lunchtime during the week and the service has been prompt. There's a lot that looks good on the menu and in time I'll return to try some more like maybe the pork leg stew or the California Panang beef curry. read more

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I've tried a few items from here by now, and I'm not a big fan of this place. They are inconsistent with their quality and the items are a hit or miss. Some items I've tried include: - Spring Rolls (Tofu) - tasted only like mint and lettuce - Papaya Salad - could only taste lime and didn't taste fresh - Larb Salad (Level 7; Chicken) - 0 spice to it. Thought it was good the first time. 2nd time, it was wet and tasted horrible and made me want to puke. - Chicken Lettuce Wraps - the only thing I've actually enjoyed from here. read more

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Came here for weekend lunch special around 220pm. Wifey and I got the cashews tofu and thai basil stir fry. The lunch specials come with soup, bowl of salad, a spring roll and the main dish with rice. The portion and flavor are good. Took out a star from a 4 because the miso soup and I got was cold with half ice cold tofu. read more

version: I've visited many Thai restaurants, and this one stood out. The space is small to medium-sized, but the food was excellent. I ordered the chicken pad thai lunch special, and the portion was generous. The price was also very reasonable. Service was good overall, though it was a bit off-putting to be asked to pay while I was still eating. Still, it's a good spot and worth a visit. read more

California Thai Cafe - Chicken pad Thai - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Good value and flavors for the daily lunch specials menu, and I appreciate that these specials are also available on weekends. I got the cashew tofu, and fiancee got the basil eggplant with calamari, both medium spicy. The medium spice level was perfect, leaving a subtle sting without overwhelming the other flavors. We enjoyed the rich flavors of both mains, and overall the lunch special portion size was ideal. Eating healthier lately so I liked having the salad with peanut dressing and Tom yum soup in the combo, with one small spring roll to give needed crunch without contributing too many extra carbs. What wasn't so great was that fiancee's tom yum soup arrived cold, with icy pieces of tofu. While mine was hot and the tofu didn't taste like it'd just escaped from the freezer. When we tried to let the server know, he was nowhere to be found. read more

California Thai Cafe - Cashew tofu lunch special - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Dear diary Was craving some Thai food for late lunch and decided to check this place out. When we got there it was extremely quiet almost no one there so service was fast. The vibe of the restaurant is more of a grab and go but there are seats and booths if you want to eat in. There was plenty of parking so no hassle. Since I can't handle much spice we decided to get the papaya salad at spice level 2 and the pad see-ew at spice level 1. Somehow the pad see-ew was more spicy than the papaya salad so make sure you confirm spice level before the order if u can't handle your spice like me. The food and the service were great and they even packed the leftovers for us to take to go. read more

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Quick stop for lunch on a Monday and everything went well. Ordered the papaya salad and the pad see-ew. They have spice levels from mild to very hot so you can customize to your liking. Restaurant was clean. Service was fast and attentive. I have no complaints. Portion size was pretty big to so we took it to go. I would recommend giving this place a try if you're in the area. read more

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I got takeout from here and ordered the Chicken Pad See Ew. The pictures posted on Yelp looked yummy so I wanted to give it a try since I was interested in trying more options in the Miramar/Mira Mesa area but was disappointed unfortunately. I'm hoping it was just because it was takeout instead of dining in, but the noodles were clumpy and most of it tasted really bitter (probably from the Chinese broccoli, but the bitterness lingered on the noodles and made it less enjoyable). The ambiance looked cute though and I'm interested in giving it another try by dining in next time for the lunch special and trying something else. There was also parking in the plaza that was easy to find. read more

California Thai Cafe - Chicken pad see ew - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Just saying how much this little place has stepped up since whenever I knew about them. Service is on point! Just awesome all around. Keep it up! read more

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We were in CA for soccer Nationals and our hotel was close enough to make the drive to this hidden gem. It's small, cozy, and clean. We arrived when it re-opened for dinner (they close between 3:00-4:00pm and re-open for dinner at 4:00). There was one guy who seated and served us, but we could see and hear a few more people prepping things behind the decorative wall. We were a party of 5, and we ordered: Drunken noodles w/ crispy pork belly (level 10 spice), Thai fried rice w/ pork belly (level 4 spice), Shrimp pad Thai (level 4 spice), Chicken pad Thai (level 5 spice), and Pork Belly Pad Thai (level 5 spice), and 2 appetizers. It was ALL delicious. Pad Thai was not overly sweet or saucy, which is what I typically see in many places. I prefer the drier, less sweet way that they make it here. Level 5 was the perfect spice for my husband, but I honestly couldn't taste the heat. (He said it was just right for him, but also said he probably could have gone up to 6.). My kids did not think it was very spicy at all and enjoyed their food. I tend to prefer "Thai hot". The level 10 had good spice, but was not "Thai hot" IMHO. I actually added the extra peppers that our server brought to the table, along with chili oil, and chopped chilis in fish sauce. Here's where the extra stars come in: they brought out extra sauces/spices, which makes it feel more authentic to me. Anytime I'm visiting my Thai, Laotian, or Vietnamese friends, we always help ourselves to all the extra sauces/spices/etc.... that they have at home. So this was a nice surprise. Most of the time, I have to ask for the little extras, and more often than not, they either don't have it or they're stingy with them. Here, they were brought out without asking. My drunken noodles were fabulous; with the right char of the vegetables, perfect flavor without drowning in sauce, and crispy pork belly. Serving size of everything was great too! Total cost of food, plus 4 beverages (I ordered water), and 2 appetizers (egg rolls and fresh rolls) came out to $105 w/ change. Gratuity was NOT included in that cost, so we paid a bit more. We don't often go out to eat, so this was a splurge for us. But it was delicious and worth it. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping by. I didn't get to take a picture of everything. We inhaled the apps before I remembered to take a pic. And I was starving so not all the pad Thai is shown. read more

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So good. Love all the curries. Excellent appetizers like chicken satay and fresh rolls. Lunch special are a great value with large selection. Generous portions too. Finish with mango coconut rice dessert! read more

Exactly what I was craving! Bright, BRIGHT flavors, shareable portions, and very friendly staff. It's my first time ever trying the spicy lime salad (with beef), and I think it's one of my new favorite dishes. I'm so glad they're right down the street! Great place for a late night meal. read more

We ordered takeout from here, overall the dishes were decent but I felt a few of the dishes were lacking some seasoning and the punch of flavor I expect from a flavorful Thai dish. We ordered pad see ew, basil eggplant, and the green curry. I thought the basil eggplant was the tastiest. I tend to be conservative with Thai spice levels 1-10 since Thai spicy is usually more spicy than usual, but next time I eat here I would crank up the spice level multiple notches. I can't speak to the service or ambiance since we did takeout but I am interested in trying the lunch specials. read more

Service is always good, food comes out hot and fresh. I have never had a bad meal or experience here and I have been coming here for 10+ years. Yeah it can get busy at lunch , but there is a reason . read more

I only tried the Thai iced tea, and it was really good. Smooth, sweet, and refreshing without being overpowering. Perfect balance of flavor and not too heavy. Even with just a drink, I was impressed and would definitely come back to try more from the menu. read more

Loved this place since forever. One of the og eateries on Miramar/black mountain and they are consistent and efficient.

Had a delicious lunch at California Thai Cafe. The food was delicious and they portions were generous. Prices were very reasonable. They serve a Tom Yum type of soup and then bring out the lunch special which includes a small salad and a vegetable spring roll. The server was attentive and we didn't have to wait long for the food. This is going to be our go-to lunch spot for Thai in the Miramar area. read more

California Thai Cafe - Yellow Curry Lunch - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Paid $12 for garlic chicken wings and only received four pieces, about $3 per wing, which is extremely overpriced/stingy. To make matters worse, the chicken was RAW!! Very disappointing experience. read more

California Thai Cafe - Garlic Chicken Wings - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Was a good go to Thai spot about 10+ years ago but the quality of the food have gone way down. I ordered pick up recently and although the portions were generous, the food was too salty and tasted spoiled. Too much salt? Bad coconut milk? I don't know what it was but it was not edible. It's a bummer that they lost their touch. Used to go here quite often. A lot of other good Thai places in San Diego to choose from. read more

The food and service was wonderful! I came in while I was waiting for my car to be worked on looking for a lunch spot where ai could stay cool and they did not disappoint! They even let me wait a little after my meal as they were slow so I could hide from the heat. I'm looking forward to my delicious left overs! read more

Went to lunch before going to doctor appointment. I ordered Bbq fried rice special. It came with 4 chicken skewers and veggies. Fried rice was good but the skewers are normal baste in sauce but doesn't taste grilled. I had more better ones that is delicious. Hubby said soup was tasty and sour (clear) normal. Was just hungry. No pics for the soup. read more

California Thai Cafe - Bbq chicken fried rice - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

While waiting for my car, I spotted a Thai restaurant right in front of the shop, great! ‍I decided to try their lunch special Pad Thai, and I loved it! The meal came with Pad Thai, a crispy egg roll, salad, an orange, and soup, totally worth it! The food was delicious, and they even asked me to rate my spice level from 1 to 10, which I found one hehe.It ended up being my brunch, and it was such a nice experience. The lady was easy to talk to, probably because it was just the two of us dining in, aside from the to-go orders. The place is spacious, indoor and outdoor, has a good restroom. Definitely worth it while waiting for my car, yay! read more

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I had a truly disappointing experience here today. I came in to order a cup of Tom Kha soup and a Thai plate. I confirmed with the server that it was vegan and did not contain any animal products. She recommended the lunch special which seemed like a perfect fit because I could get a cup of soup with an entree. I confirmed again that I wanted Tom Kha soup and the entree with tofu only, no animal products. I made sure they were vegan and she said yes. When my meal arrived, I was first served a small soup that wasn't the creamy Tom Kha I expected, but I assumed it was a different preparation and ate it. Then a full, large bowl of Tom Kha was later brought out, which was confusing but I trusted that it was part of the lunch special. When I went to pay, I waited at the front while a line formed. I rang the bell assuming the servers were in the back but there was only one at a table near the back. She said she would be right there after we were waiting for about 5 min. I felt bad because I didn't know she was the only one there and I could be patient but the insulting part was when she was done with the table she was taking the order of instead of coming to the front to help all the people that were waiting, she decided to first check out a man who asserted himself that he wanted to check out, even though he had arrived there after me and had not been waiting long. This is partially on him for his rudeness but also her customer service. Finally, she rang me up and charged $28 instead of the $14 lunch special. She claimed I had ordered a large Tom Kha, which I never did. To make matters worse, I later realized the small soup I had eaten wasn't vegan or even vegetarian at all--it was Tom Yum made with animal ingredients, despite my clear instructions. The service was inattentive, my order was mishandled, and my dietary needs were ignored. I left a tip, but I shouldn't have. Between the miscommunication, extra charge, and disregard for my requests, I won't be back--and I wouldn't recommend it. Lastly, there's a sign outside that says this place is under new management. That's usually not a good sign and this experience proved that. read more

We were in the area and decided that this would be our destination for lunch. Place is clean, service was good food amazing and hot. I would recommend this location. read more

California Thai Cafe - Drunken noodles - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Date of visit: October 29, 2023 My mom wanted to have a lunch date with me after Mass, and she hadn't been to California Thai Cafe in a while. And since I'd never been, I figured, "Why not?" As the restaurant was relatively empty, we got seated quickly. We placed our orders - Seafood Pad Thai for my mom, the Crying Tiger for myself, and an order of spring rolls for the two of us. The spring rolls and peanut sauce were decent enough, and my mom's pad thai was excellent (it's more of a fish pad thai, but the deep fried fish fillet was meaty enough). The Crying Tiger, however, was disappointing. I've had versions of it where the beef came out sizzling hot; however, not only was the beef cold, it wasn't even spicy! (I said I wanted my order mild, but not THAT mild.) While the server was attentive, and the restaurant clean, there was some confusion over the free drink offered upon check in on the Yelp app. They said the coupon wasn't good anymore... but they still gave me a Thai iced tea gratis nonetheless. (I should also mention that the sodas are served in chilled cans, with no refills.) Although I was disappointed in the Crying Tiger, California Thai Cafe does offer fried calamari and chicken wings - plus I would like to have their Pad See Ew. Perhaps other visits are in line after work. read more

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Another hidden gem on Black Mountain Road. We loved their spicy noodles, Tom Yum soup, panang curry, and mango sticky rice. One of our new favorite Thai restaurants in the area! read more

Ate at this place earlier today. New ownership and menu. It's actually better than before. They added the gaprow, which some Thai restaurant does not make. I'm glad they did because it was delicious. I ordered the chicken one and they even added two over medium egg on top. Also tried their tofu pad thai. It was also very good with just the right amount of sweet and sourness of the tamarind. I added extra lime and it elevated the taste. So happy I have a new go to Thai place now close to home. Customer service was on point. The waiter was so nice; always checked on me if I needed anything. Found out they have a location in La Jolla and the owner brought some from their menu there. The newly decorated place was clean and more open than before. Definitely will return to try their other dishes. They have lunch specials during the week too. read more

California Thai Cafe - Tofu pad thai - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food were great and amazing, staff were all friendly and answers all our inquiries. The best thing is they close late at night. So if you have a craving for it, this is the place to go. Ambience is okay. read more

Great food, ambiance, service. Cannot complain. Came here and got the lunch special and it was amazing. They give a generous full portion of your entree with sides for a reasonable price. I always hate it when places skimp out on "specials" with less food. However, this place does not disappoint! read more

California Thai Cafe - Pad Thai Chicken - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow- has this place totally gone down hill!!! Sad bc it is so close to our office. We ordered take out. Yellow chicken curry and the lunch soup. Curry we ordered spicy level 8... it was more like a 5. It was thick and not enough broth. The most noticeable thing about it was the color and the fact that they used baby carrots in it!! Like what?! Since when aren't they sliced fresh carrots?? It was average at BEST, but I would never order it again. The lunch soup was totally different than prior. It had canned mushrooms!! (They seem to be cutting corners on the veggies in there dishes for sure) it was super blah and had a HUGE tomato in it. Like a whole red tomato.... We will never return here. Very sad in all ways read more

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Saturday late lunch at around 1pm. We ordered two pad see ew ($16 each) to go through the phone (one with chicken and one with pork). The person who took the order was very nice. When I saw the food though...Maybe they should use smaller Togo containers because the amount of food looked so sad in their Togo containers. The chicken was all white meat but it was burnt and dry. I was looking for that hot wok flavor (wok hey in Cantonese) in this dish but it's lacking. (Can I mention the pad see ew from the original sab-e-lee had excellent wok hey flavor?) Anyways, the pork pad see ew was more or less the same. Not worth coming back. read more

California Thai Cafe - Pad see ew with chicken/pork - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've had good Thai food and ok Thai food. This Thai food was just sad, best I could say about this food is it was hot and it was food. I was craving Thai food and ordered it to go. There was absolutely no flavor in any of the food and I don't mean spicy. My fried rice I ordered with extra egg came with no egg and was just plain veggies and rice it felt like. Adding soy sauce still couldn't make up for the utter lack of flavor from this food. Try somewhere else. read more

Came in for a quick lunch and found a NEW yummy place. The service was quick and friendly. The lunch special was delicious. read more

California Thai Cafe - Soup with our lunch special. - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've eaten here a few times and each time, the staff is very friendly and it is never crowded so you'll be seated right away. You can also order for take out. The restaurant is small but very clean. I've tried their Pad see ew which is one of my favorite Thai dish, however... I wish they added more veggies. The papaya salad here is amazing. I'll definitely be back for that. Their mango and sweet coconut sticky rice is the best and I've also enjoyed their fried banana. The dishes here are nicely portioned so you'll be full but not really sharable and for the price, to me...it's a bit pricey. read more

California Thai Cafe - Mango and sweet coconut sticky rice to go - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

One of my favorite places in Mira Mesa, and my go to for dinner and lunch. Everything is very tasty and the food is always excellent. Service is quick with very short wait times. Lastly after the remodel I have to say it has a great ambiance. Highly reccomend if you want Thai food in San Diego. I have been a regular for the last three years! read more

The first time I came here the food was good but now it's not. I came here last night with my girlfriend and ordered a Phai Thai with chicken non spicy to go. When I started eating, I ate half and I ended up feeling nauseous, so I saved the rest for the next day not thinking that it was the food that was making me feel nauseous. The next day I ate the rest and now I'm getting that nauseous feeling again. Seriously stay away from this place! read more

We tried yet another Thai Restaurant on our search for the best Thai food in SD. This restaurant is on the older side and definitely not fancy. We came for dinner on a weeknight. We were the only people in the restaurant the entire time. I had the cashew chicken. I asked for potatoes instead of onions and they obliged. The cashew chicken was different. The taste was decent but the sauce was not like any other cashew chicken I've had. The Tom Yum soup was chock full of mushrooms and I like mushrooms so I enjoyed it. My friend liked her eggplant chicken. Service was friendly and fast. read more

California Thai Cafe - Cashew Nut chicken with potatoes instead of onions - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Decent Thai food from authentic Thai chef, food was good but a little too heavy on the sauce. I'd come back for more! Give em a try! read more

California Thai Cafe - Beef Pad Thai Lunch Special + Thai Coffee - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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We were in the area for the show at Miramar and we were stuck in traffic and saw this place for lunch. We ordered 2 items both were delicious and if I didn't live so far I'd make this one of my go tos for quick thai food read more

Green Curry Lunch was bomb! Amazing flavor on the curry. The salad had a peanut dressing. Perfect. The fried tofu was okay as well. I loved the curry the best. read more

California Thai Cafe - Fried Fry Tofu (8 Pieces) - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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